N.S. electoral boundaries commission asks for deadline extension

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HALIFAX -- Nova Scotia's electoral boundaries commission has asked for a three-week extension for its final report.

The commission is expected to deliver its final report on a proposed redrawing of the province's ridings by Aug. 31.

But Darryl Eisan, director of the commission, says it has asked the provincial government to delay that deadline until Sept. 21.

Its work stoked some controversy after the province's Justice Department rejected its interim report in June.

At the time, the government said the interim report failed to meet the legislature's terms of reference by retaining four designated ridings for the province's Acadian and black communities, where voter populations are below those of other ridings.

The commission's chairwoman disagreed, saying the terms of reference weren't mandatory, but the commission later agreed to revise its interim report.

The Justice Department declined comment.

Nova Scotia is required by law to review its electoral boundaries every 10 years.